Eligibility expanded for Water Infrastructure Grants

ALBANY — The Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) announced that with the enacted state budget providing an additional $100 million this year in grants, it can now broaden eligibility for wastewater projects and provide a total of $175 million in grants through Round 2 of the NYS Water Grants program. In addition, the maximum grant amount for drinking water projects has been increased from $2 million to $3 million or 60 percent of eligible projects costs, whichever is less. To accommodate this expansion, the Round 2 application deadline has been extended from April 15, 2016 to June 20, 2016.

“Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State is now investing an additional $350 million in grants over the next two years to assist communities in maintaining and improving their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure” said Sabrina M. Ty, EFC President and CEO. “This significant increase provided to the grant program with the support of the Legislature gives EFC the opportunity to assist more municipalities than ever before, with the added benefit of job creation and economic development.”

The Water Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2015 (Act), established as part of the 2015-2016 New York State Budget, originally provided $200 million in grants over three years to municipalities for critical drinking water and wastewater system improvements. This year’s budget increased funding support for the Act by $200 million for a total of $400 million.

All communities’ wastewater projects and drinking water projects are eligible for a NYS Water Grant. For wastewater projects, the maximum grant award is 25 percent of eligible project costs or $5 million, whichever is less. The maximum grant award for drinking water projects is 60 percent of eligible project costs or $3 million, whichever is less.

Consistent with the legislation, among other factors, EFC will consider and give preference to municipalities and projects that result in the greatest water quality improvement or greatest reduction in serious risk to public health.

EFC will be accepting applications from local governments for the $175 million currently available until Monday, June 20, 5 p.m. EFC will be expediting evaluation of the applications to ensure that grants may be awarded shortly thereafter. Applications are available at efc.ny.gov/NYSWaterGrants.

In addition to the grants announced today, EFC and DOH continue to offer either zero-percent or low-interest financing to communities to further reduce the cost of infrastructure projects. More information on these loans is available at efc.ny.gov/CWSRF (for wastewater projects) and efc.ny.gov/DWSRF (for drinking water projects).